Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Page 31
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Radio: Smooth 91.5’s CD goes No 1 ....................... Page 32 Tribut e: Passing of Maximilian Schel ......................... Page 33 ribute: Country Music: Rob Foenander’s column .................... Page 32 Jim and Aaron: Philip Seymour Hoffman profile ............ Page 36 Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre, news, people ................. Page 37 PL US THE LLO OVATT”S MEGA CRO PLUS CROSS SWORD
VALE STEPHANIE DANIEL Ian Moss at Festival
● Ian Moss will perform in the 2014 Riverboats Music Festival, February 14-16. Mor details on Page 33.
Sad loss of legend
● Observer columnist Aaron Rourke pays tribute to Philip Symour Hoffman. Turn to Page 36.
By JULIE HOUGHTON
● Stephanie Daniel ■ Lovers of audio books lost one of their finest storytellers when actor Stephanie Daniel died of cancer on December 30. In recent years, she found great fame as the voice of Phryne Fisher and all the other characters in Kerry Greenwood's hugely successful series of books about the 1920s elegant Melbourne super sleuth, the Honourable Phyrne Fisher, on which the hit ABC TV series are based. Stephanie trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London on leaving school, before working in repertory around England. She toured Austria in 1970 with a Shakespeare for schools project, before moving to Munich in 1971 to work on dubbing European films into English. She had a small role in Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, and was the make-up and camera double for Liza Minnelli in Cabaret. Having met partner David Mann in 1972, she moved with him to the UK in 1976 and then to Montreal in 1980. David quipped that actors and engineers are not normal pairings, but Stephanie and David's love affair lasted more than 40 years until her death. Stephanie worked in theatre in Montreal where their daughter Emma was born in 1982, and a move to Melbourne followed in 1984, which led to roles in Neighbours and a part in the Australian classic film The Castle. Stephanie continued her voice over work, setting up her own business recording children's stories written by Australian and New Zealand authors (Children's Talking Books), because previously all children's stories were recorded in American English. Stephanie was known for her one woman play on Jane Austen, An Uneventful Life which she wrote and performed. She was a professional narrator and voice actor for Vision Australia, CBM and Bolinda Books. She became the Artistic Director of Beleura House and Garden in Mornington and rejuvenated Philip Island's Offshore Theatre, where she lived, and directed an acting course and the annual concert at the University of the Third Age. Just before she died, she learned that she was to receive the 2014 Bass Coast Arts and Cultural Ambassador Award on Australia Day. In her absence, partner David and daughter Emma accepted the award. I first saw Stephanie Daniel in her wonderful play about Jane Austen, which brought the spirit and the words of the great author to life with charm and precision. Turn to Page 33
Madness Of The Day
● John Flaus in The Madness Of The Day at La Mama Theatre. Photo: Oscar Strangio ■ Enter the eerie atmosphere that’s been created at La Mama Theatre this week for The Madness Of The Day. You will sit behind an invisible wall and watch as a man rediscovers his bare and unusual surroundings, his isolation, and his ageing self. This production provides the best of theatre: an intriguing setting, an absorbing character, a sense of how very real it all is, and an invitation for the audience to ponder and discover, too. Director and co-devisor Laurence Strangio describes The Madness Of The Day as a contemplation of French writer, philosopher, and literary theorist Maurice Blanchot’s La Folie Du Jour. Blanchot’s fiction offers a paradox. Under duress, the narrator is challenged to tell a story that both expresses the limitlessness of experience but affirms its limits in order to be narrated, Read Leslie Hill’s Blanchot, Extreme Contemporary for a fantastic dissection. The resulting narration seems mad, frequently changing course and marked throughout with discontinuities. Skilfully and sensitively, Strangio’s play underlines these themes of limits, limitlessness, and seemingly mad disruption with a single actor in an enclosed and intimate space. The man is limited by a lack of memory and an inability to escape physically from his room but is nevertheless unrestrained by his limitless imagination. This is not a passive experience for audiences. The first 15 or so minutes are completely silent, full of subtext that draws viewers in to interpret and feel for themselves. Actor and co-devisor John Flaus gives a captivating performance from lights up, with many subtleties of emotion expressed in his actions, making him great to watch. The moments where Flaus’s character begins to really interact with the piece of writing he discovers in his room are just fantastic. What a pity it takes so long to happen as the play does sag a little in the middle. However, Flaus’s charm and Strangio’s beautiful direction averts any disappointment. The transformation of La Mama’s theatre space and the creation of a creepy room are a real credit to designer and co-devisor Meg White, aided by equally creepy lighting by J.B. Knibbs and Paul Jackson. The Madness Of The Day is playing until February 16 and is highly recommended. Performance Season: Until 16 February Times: Wed, Sun 6:30pm; Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30pm Venue: La Mama Theatre, 205 Faraday St Carlton Bookings: www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6948 - Deborah Marinaro
Page 32 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Observer Showbiz
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Radio Confidential News from stations from around Victoria
Country Crossroads
Smooth 91.5’s CD goes No 1
info@country crossroads.com.au
3-SET CD TOPS THE ARIA COMPILATION CHART
Big Breakfast Show. Southern FM 88.3. Tues. 6am-9am.
Radio star Rob Foenander
New from Chris Newman ■ The Late Late Movie is the new release from Cranbourne singer songwriter Chris Newman. The 12-track recording features some of Chris's favourite cover songs from The Eagles to Willie Nelson plus a few original tracks. Chris teams with well-known Melbourne producer and arranger Chris Wilson who also shares vocals on the album along with Rhonda Robertson.
Apollo Bay Music Festival ■ The annual Apollo Bay Festival will take place from February 28 to March 2. Country music's Shane Nicholson and the Davidson Brothers will perform alongside a list of other artists from different genres both local and international. It is the 22nd event and more info available at: www.apollobayfestival.com
Country at Hallam Hotel ■ The Hallam Hotel continues on with country music as part of its entertainment program for 2014. Artists already scheduled to perform include Doug Bruce, The Wolfe Brothers, The McClymonts and The Sunny Cowgirls. More info at www.hallamhotel.com.au
Lisa Marie tours Aust. ■ Lisa Marie Presley will head down under for a series of concerts in Sydney and Melbourne (see Page 8). The daughter of the late king of rock n roll Elvis Presley will perform in March with her five-piece band. The Storm and Garce World Tour will take in the Arts Centre Melbourne, The Capital Bendigo, West Gippsland Arts Centre and Frankston Arts Centre. - Rob Foenander ■ Archie Roach has been announced to headline the Mornington Peninsula's first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and cultural festival which will be held on March 29. The inaugural Baany to Warrna Ngargee is a nonprofit endeavour.
r Observbei z Show
■ Smooth 91.5’s Top 50 CD has topped the ARIA compilation chart. The triple-CD set has artists including ABBA, John Farnham, Kelly Clarkson, Elvis, Alicia Keys, Foreigner, Richard Marx, Dido, Tina Arena, Axiom and Cyndi Lauper. The CD is on sale at JB HiFi and Sanity, and can be downloaded from iTunes.
Brothers’ top effort ■ Brothers, Richard and Peter Stubbs, were both active on Melbourne radio with busy fire alerts at the weekend. ABC weekday afternoon host Richard Stubbs took an evening shift on 774 ABC on Sunday night, with wall-to-wall broadcasts of CFA alerts from fire troublespots across the state. Richard Stubbs was very competent in this important service, although his on-air assistant ‘Hillary’ sounds flustered, and had repeated difficulty with Victorian place names. She was out of her depth. Peter ‘Grubby’ Stubbs, partnering with Dee Dee Dunleavy on 3AW’s Weekend Break, was also providing necessary updates in the hot, blustery conditions. Grubby and Dee Dee cleverly meshed the warnings with their regular segments, including the talented Wendy Hargreaves who speaks on food. The 3AW weekend programs are also relayed into Queensland (4BC) and Western Australia (6PR) whose listeners must have mind-numbingly bored with fire news from thousands of kilometres away.
● Richard Stubbs from 774 ABC for the seat of Griffith, being vacated by the outgoing former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. “Good luck to the ALP tonight In Griffith tell Tony (Abbott) ‘get your hands off the ABC, and at same time tell News corporate (News Corp. Australia) the same thing.”
ALP cheer
Radio Briefs
● Denis Scanlan ■ Geelong radio man Denis Scanlan doesn’t mind flying his political colours from the mast. The Pulse 94.7 morning host (Scanlan’s Front Page, 9am11am weekdays) sent a Facebook message to the Labor Party for its by-election fight
On This Day Saturday Friday Wednesday Thursday February 12 February 13 February 14 February 15 ■ TV doctor James Wright (John Knight) was born in Brisbane in 1927 (87). Abraham Lincoln, US President, was born in 1809. He died aged 56 in 1865. US actress Christina Ricci was born in California in 1980 (34) Scottish actress Annette Crosbie is 80.
■ Singer Tennessee Ernie Ford was born in 1919. He died aged 72 in 1991. TV personality and actor Stuart Wagstaff is 89. He was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1925. English singer Robbie Williams was born in 1974 (40). Actor George Segal is 80 (1934).
■ Valentine’s Day. US entertainer Jack Benny was born in 1894. He died aged 80 in 1974. Sports caller Norman ‘Nugget’ May was born in Melbourne 86 years ago. Florence Henderson (Carol in The Brady Bunch) was born in 1934. She is 80.
■ Australian entertainer Roy Rene ‘Mo’ (Henry van der Sluys) was born in Adelaide in 1892. He died aged 62 in 1954. Graham Kennedy was born in 1934. He died aged 71 in 2005. He hosted In Melb. Tonight. Football identity Neale Daniher was born in Ungarie, NSW, in 1961 (52).
■ 3CR has a position vacant for Program Coordinator. This is a fixed term full-time position until February 2016. The appointee manages all aspects of programming at the station including International Women’s Day, Survival Day and May Day. ■ Nick Slater has been appointed to the role of Nova Network Night’s Imaging Producer, dedicated to working on night show Smallzy’s Surgery. He has been working from Melbourne.
● Emily Symons ■ Smooth 91.5 FM has found a new radio star: Emily Symons, who plays ‘Marilyn’ in Home And Away. Symons stood in for Melissa Doyle at the weekend. Mel was in Bali, reporting for Seven News on Schapelle Corby’s release from jail. Symons was a star in the UK TV series Emmerdale, earning herself a nomination for BAFTA best actress. She was a semi-finalist on Torvil And Dean’s Celebrity Dancing On Ice on television in the UK.
In press
■ 3AW Promotions Manager David Mann featured in the country weekly, the Seymour Telegraph, for his Australia Day presentation to the Nagambie Football Club, as top citizen in the Strathbogie area.
Cool drinks
■ Members of The Radio Green Room group on Facebook are gathering in Melbourne for a Saturday afternoon with drinks at The Village (formerly Belgian Beer Garden), at the corner of St Kilda Rd and Moubray St. The radio professionals will have their casual meeting from 2pm on Saturday, March 8. Melbourne
Observer
Monday Sunday February 16 February 17 ■ Singer, and politician, Sonny Bono was born in 1935. He died aged 62 in 1998. The late Patty Andrews, a member of the Andrews Sisters, was born in 1918. US tennis player John McEnroe was born in Germany in 1959 Actress Lisa Loring was born in 1958 (56).
■ Folk poet Andrew ‘Banjo’ Paterson was born in NSW in 1864. He died aged 76 in 1941. British actress Patricia Routledge was born in Cheshire, England, in 1929 (85). US singer-songwriter Gene Pitney was born in 1940. He died aged 66 in 2006.
Tuesday February 18 ■ Sports commentator Rex Mossop was born in 1928. He died aged 83 in 2011. Director-producer Milos Forman was born in Czechoslovakia in 1932 (82). Artist and musician Yoko Ono was born in Japan in 1933 (81). Actor John Travolta was born in 1954 (60).
Thanks to GREG NEWMAN of Jocks Journal for assistance with birthday and anniversary dates. Jocks Journal is Australia’s longest running radio industry publication. Find out more at www.jocksjournal.com
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ShowBiz!
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Page 33
Observer Showbiz
Evolution, Revolution
TV, Radio, Theatre Latest Melbourne show business news - without fear or favour
Moss at Riverboats Music Festival ■ The 2014 Riverboats Music Festival, three laid-back days of Australian musical talent on the banks of the Murray River at Echuca Moama from February 14-16, is growing in popularity in its third year. RocKwiz’s Brian Nankervis will be
MC and the full artist line-up includes The Cat Empire, Tim Finn, Ian Moss, Paul Dempsey, Don Walker, The Basics, Dan Kelly’s Dream Band, Wagons, Thelma Plum, Tinpan Orange, Mojo Juju, Sweet Jean and Liz Stringer. www.riverboatsmusic.com.au
Passing of actor Maximilian Schell ● Zulya Kamalova in Evolution, Revolution and the Mail Order Bride at fortyfive downstairs until February 16. Photo: Sarah Walker ■ Russian revolutionary and feminist, Inessa Armand, passionate champion of women’s rights, spent her short life campaigning for female equality and fighting for the Bolshevik cause. In 1914 she founded Rabotnitsa, the first Bolshevik newspaper for women becoming its first editor. At the time of her death in 1920 at the age of 46 from cholera, she was head of Zhenotdel, the Women’s Section of the Central Committee. Armand, born into a middle-class Parisian family, was given a state funeral and laid to rest at the Kremlin in Red Square. Lenin, allegedly her lover, was inconsolable. Within 10 years the Women’s Section was closed and Armand was virtually forgotten. This production follows the trajectories of two women, Inessa Armand and Eva, the mail order bride of the title, and looks with irony at what has become of the great hope and promise of Russian feminism in the 21st century. At one point Inessa tells us about her favourite character in Tolstoy’s War and Peace, Natasha Rostova. We, the audience, should recognise this as a cautionary tale. Natasha, initially seduced by Kuragin, is eventually ‘saved’ by her marriage to Prince Andrei, finding happiness in her traditional role as wife and mother. Accompanied by a four-piece orchestra, writer and AriaAward-winning composer Zulya Kamalova is terrific in this one-woman, torch song tour-de-force. Director Maude Davey on the whole succeeds in pulling together all the disparate elements in the performance. There are some overdrawn scenes, in particular those of the Maya character, which could do with tightening. However, this production triumphs due, not least, to the exceptional talent of Kamalova. The production would be much diminished without Adrienne Chisolm’s evocative set design, enhanced by Michael Carmody’s hauntingly, melancholic projections, showcasing the detritus of dustcovered memory. Evolution, Revolution And The Mail Order Bride is on at fortyfivedownstairs until February 16. Venue: fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Season: Until February 16 Tickets: $35/$30/Groups 6+ $25 Bookings: 9660 9966 or fortyfivedownstairs.com - Kathryn Keeble
Apology Concert ■ An Apology Concert tomorrow (Thu., Feb. 13) from 6pm-10pm at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl to celebrate the anniversary of the apology to Australia’s stolen generations will bring indigenous and non-indigenous performers together. Some of Australia’s best indigenous and nonindigenous musicians will perform at the free concert hosted by the Healing Foundation, an organisation established on the first anniversary of the apology. The anniversary concert, Apology – Heal Our Past, Build Our Future Together, is being hosted by singer, songwriter, actor and comedian Eddie Perfect and Aboriginal actor and star of the Sapphires, Miranda Tapsell. Performers include Christine Anu, Archie Roach, Frank Yamma, Jimblah, Thelma Plum and Kutcha Edwards. They will join non-indigenous performers including Tim Rogers from You Am I, Clare Bowditch, Hip Hop duo Horror Show, and Australian urban roots band Blue King Brown. For Uncle Archie Roach: “What happened to the stolen generations can’t be erased or taken back and the anniversary is there to remind people it shouldn’t have happened, and we need to come together on that day to make sure it never happens again.” Gates will open at 5.30pm. Entry is free.
Volunteers wanted ● Maximilian Schell A variety of projects followed, such ■ Superb Austrian actor Maximilian Schell, star of stage, TV, and film, sadly as The Deadly Affair (1966), directed by passed away on Saturday February 1 Sidney Lumet; the moody The Castle (1968), based on Kafka's novel K; The from pneumonia, aged 83. Known for his striking looks and in- Odessa File (1974) with Jon Voight; The tense acting style, Mr Schell worked hard Man In The Glass Booth (1975), which to create a considerable reputation in both saw him nominated for Best Actor; the Charles Bronson thriller St Ives (1976); Europe and the US. Born in Vienna, Austria on Decem- the potent anti-war action/drama Cross ber 8, 1930, Mr Schell would however Of Iron, directed by the one-and-only be raised in Zurich, Switzerland, and as Sam Peckinpah; A Bridge Too Far a young boy he showed an interest in (1977); Julia (1977), garnering him yet acting, claiming a role in a production of another Oscar nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actor; the big budget The William Tell at the age of 11. His highly esteemed stage career Black Hole (1979); and The Chosen began in 1952, and proved to be an ac- (1981), starring opposite Rod Steiger. The early 1970s saw Mr Schell turn complished Shakespearian actor with to directing, and gave us wonderful feaacclaimed turns in Richard III and the tures such as First Love (1970), the highly TV movie Hamlet (1960). acclaimed and Oscar-nominated The Mr Schell appeared in German films Pedestrian (1973), End Of The Game such as Kinder, Mutter und ein General and the insightful Marlene (1955 - his feature film debut); The Plot (1975), (1984), made up of fascinating converTo Assassinate Hitler (1955); The Girl sations with legendary actress Marlene From Flanders (1956); and The Last Dietrich, and was nominated for a golden Ones Shall Be First (1957). statuette in the Best Documentary catMr Schell made an impressive US egory. debut in the WWII epic The Young LiIn 2002 he directed a documentary ons (1958) (****), alongside Marlon which centred on his sibling, entitled My Brando and Montgomery Clift, and then Sister Maria. wowed viewers in Playhouse 90's teleMore recent films that Mr Schell apvision production of Judgment At peared in were the well-regarded TV Nuremberg (1959), as defence attorney movie Stalin (1992); A Far Off Place Hans Rolfe. (1993) starring a young Reese Mr Schell would then reprise the role Witherspoon; the excellent Little Odessa for the big-screen version, directed by (1994), a stark drama with Tim Roth; Stanley Kramer, written by Abby Mann, John Carpenter's wild Vampires (1998); and starring Spencer Tracy, Marlene Deep Impact (1998); Festival In Cannes Dietrich, Burt Lancaster, Richard (2001) directed by Henry Jaglom; and Widmark and Montgomery Clift. the quirky caper/comedy The Brothers This mammoth, five-star classic still Bloom (2008), starring Adrien Brody and packs a punch, and is probablt still Rinko Kikuchi. Schell's finest hour on film (he won the This fine thespian's final production Oscar for Best Actor). will be Les brigands, where he will play If you have not seen Judgment At the role of Mr Escher. Nuremberg, then run to your nearest reMaximilian Schell left an indelible tail or rental store and acquire it as soon mark on audiences around the world, as possible. whether it was on stage or screen, and Mr Schell played Walter Harper in was an incredible talent both in front of the oustanding hest flick Topkapi (1964) and behind the camera, providing us with (*****), and was a definite inspiration a rich bounty of entertainment that will on Brian De Palma's 1996 thriller Mis- keep fans absorbed and satisfied for sion : Impossible, especially one of its many years to come. - Aaron Rourke most memorable sequences.
■ MLOC Productions Inc. seeks volunteer helpers to help spread the load in various areas of running the theatre company, such as costumes, set-building, helping backstage and fund-raising. The company rehearses in Parkdale and presents two shows annually, in June and November, at the Phoenix Theatre, Elwood. If you would like to become involved in volunteering with a local theatre company, they would love to hear from you. Please call Barbara on 0412 013 364 or email info@mloc.org.au ● From Page 31
Stephanie Daniel Later Stephanie and I were colleagues as professional narrators at Vision Australia, and to this day, I spend much time listening to her wonderful recordings of the Phryne Fisher books. It's no secret that Stephanie was author Kerry Greenwood's definitive voice of Phryne. In Kerry's own words, "Stephanie will be remembered as the voice of Phryne. She had the perfect accent, the fine intonation, and a wicked skill for mimicry. “Whenever Bolinda was making a new audio book, Stephanie would ring me with a list of questions a mile long, make me pronounce the languages and sing the songs, and record it all to reproduce in her trademark velvety tone. :Everyone loved her work. When I announced her death on my Facebook page, more than 4000 people saw it, and many wrote in to deplore the loss of such an artist. I cannot imagine who could even begin to take her place. Death you had somewhere else to be Why have you stolen my Stephanie? Because she would be such good company? I shall miss her more than I can say, and Phryne will miss her, too." Vale Stephanie Daniel. - Julie Houghton
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Page 34 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Arts companies should be able to tell governments to bugger off By STUART GLOVER Senior Lecturer, Creative Writing at University of Queensland
www.theconversation.edu.au ■ The joke was in, then out, then in again. Over the last week a story reminding us of the delicate politics of arts funded by the government and the need for good governance leaked out of the Queensland Theatre Company (QTC). It quickly became major media story, but then not much of a story at all – all over a rather meagre joke about Premier Campbell Newman. On the weekend the national media seemed delighted to report, while the local theatre sector seemed horrified to learn, that somehow the state’s flagship theatre company had — between its board and artistic director — chosen to cut a rather pale joke about the Queensland Premier from the Brisbane production of Jonathan Biggins’ play Australia Day: DEPUTY MAYOR: Why not merge the Liberal and National Parties as they have over the border. MAYOR: Two words: Campbell Newman. The nervous decision to self-censor the line after complaints following a preview performance – and then to restore it for the opening night, has left the company, its board, and the state’s arts sector looking a little silly. It also reveals something of the climate of the arts in Queensland at the moment and the particular issues that the QTC and others like it face as arts companies that are also government statutory authorities. The chain of events has taken a few days to emerge. As the Brisbane Times reported on February 1: QTC chairman Richard Fotheringham [a Bligh Government appointee and a one-time political theatre practitioner] said board members received an email and Twitter complaint about the play’s political references, along with several about its treatment of disability, but denied these resulted in overt pressure to change the script. At some point Fotheringham discussed the matter with a Board member with the Artistic Director, Wesley Enoch, and with the Executive Director, Sue Donnelly. Fotheringham then left the matter in Enoch’s hands: “Our agreed opinion was we are not going to censor anything, [but] let the creative team know about the complaints being made,” he said. “If they felt there was any merit in [them] and wanted to change the script, that was fine, but we weren’t going to interfere in any way. Or, as The Courier-Mail reported Fotheringham saying, “they decided to tweak one line”. Artistic Director Wesley Enoch is usually admirably open about the operations of the company – fresh air after his predecessor Michael Gow’s closed shop – and Enoch was quick to post links to the media coverage about the affair on his personal Facebook page. But for some reason it wasn’t until this week that Enoch spoke to the media about the restoration of the Newman joke to the play. He discussed his decision to cut the line with the Brisbane Times, saying “people have to acknowledge that this is what an artistic director does: you stand up and sometimes you make mistakes”. In an interview with Spencer Howson on local ABC Radio Enoch clarified what occurred after Fotheringham had left the matter with him. Enoch describes the decision to change the line as part of the usual kind of “testing” that goes on during the preview season: The line wasn’t in the original script that was done in Sydney and Melbourne. It was a line that was added for this season. And during previews we were checking it out and going “Oh is this working? How is it working?”. And the number of complaints that came through were saying that that line created a kind of political prism through which you then watched the whole play. Enoch takes “ultimate responsibility” for the removal and the restoration of the line. This doesn’t make it a good decision – particularly when it was bound to become public — but it is the involvement of the Board and possibly the government in any discussion around the joke that really seems to have exercised the local industry and the media. The Queensland Government doesn’t seem to have been in any way responsible. Campbell Newman told reporters he wasn’t bothered: “I was well and truly aware, and I thought it was quite funny”. The role of the Board of the Queensland Theatre Company is more intriguing. What should have Board members done about complaints directed to them or with their own criticisms of the work? In most textbook and industry accounts, the relative roles of the board versus those of company artistic directors and CEOs are clear. In an ideal world the artistic director drives the artistic vision of the company. There are good reasons for this. The corporate structures don’t exist as ends in themselves: they are there to serve the creative work, not the other way round. The board might contribute to a discussion of the overall goals of the company, including its artistic ones, but it is best if artistic directors are left to form and implement their own vision. The board is mostly there to ensure that the company doesn’t go off the rails. The idea that any board should interfere in a production at a line level — particularly out of party political sensitivities — is a disaster for the real and perceived independence of an arts company. This is particularly so for QTC which has a governmentappointed board and, like the State Theatre of South Australia (STSA) but unlike the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) and the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC), is a statutory authority administered under its own act. That is, it is in the curious position of being part of government. Turn To Page 41
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To make films is human, to Baz Luhrmann, divine ■ In retrospect, it seems a foregone conclusion that The Great Gatsby would have blitzed the 3rd AACTA Awards, held in Sydney. As a A$120 million budget film that took more than A$28 million at the Australian box office and a total of more than A$350 million worldwide (figures from Box Office Mojo), it is bigger in both budget and revenue than all the other film entries combined. But in accepting the accolade for Best Director, Baz Luhrmann seemed genuinely surprised – and given the last time he stepped up to the podium in Australia was in 1992, he probably was. It’s a proud Aussie tradition to snub success, but the 3rd AACTA Awards (formerly the AFI awards) could have been renamed A Celebration of Baz. Not only did The Great Gatsby dominate the industry luncheon on the Tuesday, it also grabbed the lion’s share of the awards on Thursday night. The only Award it didn’t win was for Best Actress, which went to Rose Byrne for her turn in Tim Winton’s The Turning (2013), over Carey Mulligan. As well as picking up the awards, there was a song and dance number during the night which celebrated Baz’s oeuvre from Strictly Ballroom (1992), through Romeo + Juliet (1996), Moulin Rouge (2001), and Australia (2008), as well as Gatsby (Baz is doing a musical version of Strictly Ballroom). There was also a fascinating clip portraying how Baz and Co. managed to create a film about 1920s New York in Sydney, Australia, by the expert deployment of blue screen technology and a legion of highly talented artists and digital compositors. Finally, there was Baz himself, along with partner and collaborator Catherine Martin, coproducer Catherine Knapman, and co-writer Craig Pearce. Baz spoke from the heart, without referring to any notes, and seemingly not having prepared a speech. He emphasised the collaborative nature of his work, the centrality of his partnership with Catherine Martin in par-
By MARK POOLE
Lecturer in Cinema (RMIT) and New Media (Monash) at RMIT University
www.theconversation.edu.au
● Baz Luhrmann ticular (who has been Indeed, it is possibly as honoured with Academy Australian as The Rocket, Awards for her costume winner of this year’s Best design) and his high Original Screenplay by Kim school years with co- award writer Craig Pearce. Mordaunt, a film that Baz explained that it was shot entirely in Laos was only possible to make and Thailand with a local The Great Gatsby in Aus- cast speaking Lao, by an tralia through the talents Australian and local and experience of his crew, and post-produced team. in Australia. People thought he was But given the success mad to even try, and Sony of Baz Luhrmann’s films famously passed on the with Australian audiences project before Warner if not always its critics Brothers and Village indeed, Lurhmann has Roadshow agreed to fi- three films in Australia’s nance it. all time Top Twenty, a Of course, a key plank major feat in itself – it was in Baz’s team was great to see Baz visibly Leonardo DiCaprio, a moved on the podium bankable star and some- when he said it meant a one that Baz helped put on lot to him to be recognised the map by casting him in in his own country. So what is Australian a lead role as Romeo in Romeo + Juliet when a still about a New York story relatively unknown 19- from an American novel? Simply, it’s an Australian year-old. DiCaprio had re- take on that story. sponded to Baz’s chalAn Australian film, by lenge by flying over to an Australian production Sydney to film a test company, with Australian scene under the Harbour finance (as well as American), written by AustraBridge. For the industry profes- lians, acted by a cast of sionals at the 3rd AACTA Australians (with a Awards at the Star Event couple of Americans), Centre in Darling shot in Sydney by AustraHarbour, there was a lians, and post-produced sense that the gongs for by a team of brilliant AusGatsby were at least in part tralians. And what is a compensation for failing more, it’s a Bazmark to recognise Baz’s previ- Film. By Baz. ous work. At the AACTA industry Moulin Rouge was luncheon MC Patrick passed over for Lantana Brammall suggested that at the 2001 Awards, and the verb “to Baz” enter the Australia was eclipsed by lexicon, meaning to go Samson and Delilah in over the top with enthusi2009. asm and verve in order to Indeed Romeo + Juliet, create something unique, for many Luhrmann’s as in “I bazzed up a great strongest work, was not omelette”. Perhaps we even deemed “Austra- should take him up on the lian” and was therefore suggestion. produced within Australia.
Never Tear Us Apart, the tabloid version of the INXS story By JOHN WILLSTEED
Lecturer, School of Media, Entertainment, Creative Arts, Music and Sound at Queensland University of Technology
www.theconversation.edu.au ■ Maybe the ads ruined it for me. Certainly, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart was thoroughly cross-promoted on Channel Seven. I think Kochie may have even mentioned it once or twice. The ads, though, pointed to the all the notable elements of Sunday night’s first episode: the outrageous wiggery (especially the mullets); all that petulance and flouncing; and the much-discussed, uncanny physical similarity of the actors to the main protagonists. But it turned out that the ads were pretty much it. The first instalment of Seven’s much-vaunted mini-series about INXS was a series of events with very little to bind them into a story. It felt like a (not very good) comic strip – crudely drawn, brightly coloured, neatly framed. Fans will probably love it. I’m not one – though I was a bit of a one, once upon a time. The story of INXS rising from the middle-class suburbs is told using a limited, and sometimes confusing, dramatic lexicon. Flashbacks to childhood, for instance, are graded differently. This colour change makes them look a little spooky, as though the memories aren’t very pleasant. The whole thing is peppered with recent “interviews” in which the actors appear to be band members reminiscing about key points in the story from the present. This device does not work. If it was an egg-beater or a biro, you would throw it out. One of the major elements of the story that does work is the recreation of the live musical sequences. These are active and colourful and mostly convincing in their blending with archival footage of real shows, audience reactions and fan voxpops. A painful exception to this comes when keyboardist and songwriter Andrew Farriss is trying to capture the beginnings of the classic INXS track Need You Tonight in his home studio. He has the rhythm and the riff, and is adding a second guitar part. His first efforts are ridiculous, and in a different key, as though he can’t remember how to play the guitar. It’s just silly. But, after all, these are just details. Experience tells me that the interesting thing about the band scenario – thrusting a bunch of creative folk into a bubble of touring and recording – is the evolving nature of the relationships. These relationships turn on small conversations and events, often seemingly inane, which create the tension that this story so desperately needs. The indicators used here are those of “success”: big and bigger tours, awards and metallic records, buckets of drugs, and many nameless women in lingerie. It’s as though Who Weekly were writing the story. The pivotal moment in the INXS story, if the mini-series is to be believed, is the one in which band manager Chris Murphy informs the band that Hutchence and Andrew Farriss would become the sole songwriters. Although it leads to an album or two of hugely successful hits, it cannot last. There is short, sharp peak and then the inevitable, steady downward decline. Other bands have dealt with these pivotal moments differently. The Beatles, The Small Faces and The Monkees are examples of bands that actively, and with some success, tried to discard their “pop” image. They abandoned the formula for the experiment, and embraced the value of self-expression. They lost some fans and gained others. This is an equally difficult road to travel, and often equally disastrous – most bands eventually collapse, regardless of the path they choose – but it delivers the possibility of stories a lot more interesting than this one. I said earlier that I was a bit of a fan. It was because of this: in 1984, INXS released a second single, Burn For You, from The Swing, their fourth album. It was a great single, rhythmic and dense and sonically rich. Turn To Page 35
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Page 35
Showbiz Latest
Explainer: The Oscars ■ The first thing to understand about the Oscars is that, as a measure of the aesthetic value of films, they are completely unreliable. To understand why this is the case, we need to know what exactly ‘The Academy’ is and how it operates. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, established in 1927, is an invitation-only honorary society made up of people who work in the film industry, mainly in Hollywood. The Academy has several branches: one for actors, one for editors, one for executives, and so on. Memberships, once gained, do not expire. The Academy was originally formed as an organisation that could deal with the internal politics of Hollywood, such as labour disputes, but also to enhance its external reputation. While cinema itself has been wildly popular in America since its beginnings, Hollywood quickly gained a reputation as a hotbed of vice and sleaze. The damaging Fatty Arbuckle rape and murder scandal of 1921 was still fresh in the collective memory five years later at the founding of The Academy. The Academy does things other than give out awards. It has a library in Beverly Hills that is an important archival resource for film scholars. I’ve been there to do research; it’s top notch. But all the other activities of the Academy are dwarfed by their annual awards ceremony, which was first held in 1929. It works like this: Academy members are sent a ‘Reminder List of Eligible Releases’ from which to make their nominations. Films on that list have met a few benchmarks. For instance, a feature film’s premiere must have been in a movie theatre, and the film must have run in an LA county theatre with paid admission for a period of seven consecutive days. That’s why one of this year’s best American films is ineligible for Oscars. Although it screened in cinemas here in Australia and in other territories, Steven Soderbergh’s Liberace biopic Behind The Candelabra was made for US premium cable channel HBO and did not receive a theatrical release in the States. Before the nominees are decided in the Oscars race, a whole lot of other bodies have their say.
By HUW WALMSLEY-EVANS Lecturer in Creative Industries Faculty at Queensland University of Technology
www.theconversation.edu.au
The Spoiler ● From Page 34
For Those Who Have Lost The Plot
Neighbours ■ 6.30pm. Weeknights. Eleven ■ Monday, February 17. Mason seeks Brennan's help to prove his innocence; Kyle convinces Georgia to stay in Erinsborough; Brennan gets to the bottom of Danni's secret. ■ Tuesday, February 18. The rift between Sonya and Toadie becomes worse; Kate is shocked to learn the Brennan has moved into number 24; Imogen and Mason's relationship still has to remain a secret. ■ Wednesday, February 19. Toadie and Sonya address their differences; Imogen and Mason plan to go all the way; Josh feels betrayed when Imogen reveals her secret. ■ Thursday, February 20. It's Mason's birthday but Imogen has a not so pleasant surprise for him; Georgia pushes Kyle away; Bailey misinterprets Josie Mackay's interest in him. ■ Friday, February 21. Kate pushes Brennan away, until she becomes vunerable and jealous; Mason's birthday party lifts his spirits; Danni moves in with Brennan; Amber's fun is soon taken away by Josh.
Home and Away ● The Oscars will be presented in Hollywood on March 3 (Melbourne time) The Oscars is merely instance, select the nomiIn it English shows knowledged the contrathe culmination of a long nees for Best Production that “prizes have always diction at the heart of the “awards season” that be- Design. been of fundamental im- exercise. gins months earlier. After a few weeks the portance to the instituIn effect it gave two Some of these other results are tabulated by ac- tional machinery of cul- best picture awards. One bodies, such as the Na- countants, the nominees in tural legitimacy and au- for “Outstanding Picture” tional Society of Film Crit- each category are thority”, that they are to World War I flyer ics, style themselves as a finalised, and the final bal- “machines for securing drama romance Wings; kind of anti-Oscars, purely lots are prepared. and extending their own one for “Unique and Artconcerned with film as There is a two-week authority”. This is in- ist Picture” to Sunrise: A art. period between the final structive when we think Song Of Two Humans. Armond White (yes, ballots being sent out and about the Oscars, and Wings is now little he of the Steve McQueen the deadline for voting. It what they’re for. more than an historical as “embarrassing garbage is in this window that proA 2012 Los Angeles footnote, while Sunrise is man”), when he was chair duction companies mount Times study of the regarded as not only one of the New York Film Crit- enormous campaigns to Academy’s nearly 6000 of the pinnacles of the siics Circle, told me that he secure votes for their person membership lent cinema, but of cinthought of his organisation nominated pictures. This showed the following de- ema. as: is the point of those “For mographic breakdown: It was number five on a bastion of East Coast Your Consideration …” the Academy is 94 per the BFI’s 2012 list Top 50 intellectual elitism, and ads you might have seen cent white, 77 per cent Greatest Films of All the ‘laurel-leaf’ tradition in US magazines. male, 14 per cent under Time. It is instructive that of judging artistic works. Harvey Weinstein, for- the age of 50, and has a the discontinued Oscars Meanwhile other merly of Miramax and median age of 62. Some category contained the organisations, such as the now of The Weinstein 33 per cent of members enduring work. Broadcast Film Critics Company, is regarded as are previous winners or It’s not that artistically Association, and the Hol- the most effective Oscars nominees of Academy excellent films can’t be lywood Foreign Press As- campaigner. Awards themselves. nominated for, and win, sociation (who put on the If we think of The Os- the “Outstanding Picture” Through a combinaGolden Globes) seek to tion of extravagant adver- cars as a machine for con- successor “Best Picture” ape the Oscars by predict- tising outlay, lavish solidating and extending award. It’s just that these ing at their own ceremo- schmoozing, and—some the power of its member- films are competing nies the likely Oscars con- have claimed—more Ma- ship — a coterie of old against a lot of contradictenders. chiavellian tactics, white men at the apex of tory impulses. All of this “awards Weinstein has managed to the entertainment-indusWill this year’s Best season” build-up figures convince Hollywood-at- trial complex (I see you, Picture be one like 2007’s in the mind of Academy large of what we can Jack) — then we begin to No Country For Old Men voters, and certain films agree in retrospect is understand that the Oscars – a film that will be emerge from the process some thoroughly middle- are a poor instrument for watched 50 years from with an air of inevitability. brow nonsense. See Chi- objectively identifying the now? In most award catego- cago and Shakespeare In best of film as art. Or one like 2008’s ries the members of each Love (actually don’t). The interests of film art Slumdog Millionaire: a branch vote exclusively The seminal book on and film industry do not film for which, six years for their respective award cultural prizes is James F. necessarily coincide. later, we have to strain to category. The inaugural Oscars recall what the fuss was English’s 2005 The The art directors, for Economy of Prestige. ceremony in 1929 ac- about?
■ 7pm. Weeknights. Seven ■ Thursday, February 20. Double Episode.
Arts, Showbiz Briefs ■ The Abbotsford Convent is celebrating 10 years as an arts, cultural and learning precinct. ■ International Print Exchange III opens its exhibition of Prints by 243 artists celebrating Mexico's Day of the Dead, February 21-23, at Eugenius Gallery, 252 High St, Windsor. ■ True North - Reservoir's very own arts festival - sails into its second year, March 21-23. ● From Page 34
Never Tear Us Apart, the tabloid version of the INXS story It had space and drama, and all the players were in it somewhere. It would sit neatly on a compilation between Hunters and Collectors Talking To A Stranger and The Triffids' Wide Open Road. The song, for me, is bound to Richard Lowenstein’s film clip. Evocative images of early 80s North Queensland, the plane winding up the coast, lots of mangroves and extended shots of the backing singers. The band looked happy in the midst of all this warmth, greenery, lushness. I still love watching this clip. It relaxes me. But they never returned to this idyllic theme. Everything became harsh, black and white, sharp lines and extreme contrast. In the constant striving to be more and more popular, to sell more and more things, they left the best bits behind. The concluding installment of INXS: Never Tear Us Apart screens on the Seven Network on Sunday (Feb. 16).
Page 36 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Movies, DVDs With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke
What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs
Philip Seymour Hoffman July 23, 1967 - February 2, 2014
● Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt (left) and Daniel Bruhl as Niki Lauda (right) in Oscar winning filmmaker Ron Howard's Rush, the exciting and compelling true story of the fierce rivalry between the two racing legends, a must see FILM: RUSH: Genre: Drama/Action/Biography. Cast: Chris Hemsworth (James Hunt), Daniel Bruhl (Niki Lauda), Olivia Wilde. Year: 2013. Rating: MA15+. Running Time: 123 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: ****½ Verdict: You don't have to be a racing fan at all to be firmly gripped by Rush, the adrenalin fuelled re-creation of the bitter rivalry between Formula One racing legends James Hunt and Niki Lauda in the 1970's. This is an astonishing achievement from Ron Howard, the Oscar winning director of such films as Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cocoon and The Da Vinci Code, to name a few. Chris Hemsworth gives his best performance to date as James Hunt, as does Daniel Bruhl as Niki Lauda. Everything about this film excels on every level as you thrust firmly in the hot seat right with these waring rivals. The racing sequences are simply mind boggling and you'd swear it was the real thing. Here is a totally captivating and pulse pounding experience! FILM: WHITE HOUSE DOWN: Genre: Action/Thriller. Cast: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx. Year: 2013. Rating: MA15+. Running Time: 131 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: **½ Summary: If the slightly superior 'Olympus Has Fallen' wasn't enough, The White House and The President take another beating in this popcorn pot-boiler. The story goes that while on a tour of the White House with his young daughter a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the President from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders. With the recently all too familiar, or almost same plot driven 'Olympus Has Fallen' all you really have to do here is choose which hero you prefer, Gerard Butler or here with Channing Tatum. There's the usual production line of endless action, in the air and on the ground, plenty gunplay, impressive pyrotechnics and surprisingly inferior special effects, so for all it has to offer, this is an uninspiring and disappointing effort. FILM: THE BICYCLE THIEF: Genre: Crime/Drama. Cast: Enzo Staiola, Lamberto Maggiorani, Lianella Carell. Years: 1948. Rating: PG. Running Time: 93 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: ***** Verdict: Vittorio De Sica's groundbreaking and spellbinding Italian neo realist drama of an unemployed man in depression period post-WWII Italy who at last gets a good job, for which he needs a bike, but soon his bicycle is stolen, and he and his son walk the streets looking for the bicycle. Stunning filmed entirely on location with non-professional actors only three years after the war, The Bicycle Thief vividly captures raw post WWII Rome. Compelling, poignant, tragic, visually striking and highly moving, this is a unique and staggering landmark achievement, a genuine experience unlike any other, a true masterpiece of cinema! Deservedly won a special Academy award before Foreign Language Film Category was introduced. FILM: BARTON FINK: Genre: Drama/Mystery/Thriller. Cast: John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, Michael Lerner. Year: 1991. Rating: TBC. Running Time: 113 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: **** Verdict: Oscar winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen are right at their peak excel with this wonderful darkly comic, surrealistic and highly original story set in 1941 of a New York playwright who is invited to Hollywood to write a picture for a major studio. On arrival he is put up at a strangely quirky run down Hotel where he develops severe writer's block, but his neighbour, a mysterious insurance salesman with a dark past, superbly portrayed by John Goodman, tries to help as a chilling and bizarre sequence of events continue to distract him even further from his task as he gets drawn deeper into the neo-noir world of Hollywood's dark underbelly and a mystery that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. Hollywood gets the full gritty knife-edged hallucinogenic treatment here, headed by a brilliant performance by John Turturro as Barton Fink and a standout, show-stopping role by Michael Lerner as the studio head, inspired by real life studio legend Louis B. Mayer. Funny, haunting visually stunning and intelligently written, this is an assault on the senses that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
■ Hollywood lost one of its favourite sons when much-loved, Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on February 2, at the criminally young age of 46. Movie-goers around the world built up tremendous respect and affection for this incredible talented thespian, who delivered numerous first-class performances for both stage and screen. Born July 23, 1967 in Fairport, New York, Mr Hoffman became interested in acting during high school, and then attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 1989 with a BFA in Drama. Mr Hoffman debuted on TV in 1991 in the popular series Law And Order (episode - The Violence Of Summer), and on the big screen the same year in the low-budget Triple Bogey On A Par Five Hole. The actor had a number of small roles in films such as My New Gun (1992) with Diane Lane; Leap Of Faith (1992) starring Steve Martin; Scent Of A Woman (1992), the film that earned Al Pacino a Best Actor Oscar; Money For Nothing (1993) alongside John Cusack; the lukewarm remake The Getaway (1994), featuring Alec Baldwin; When A Man Loves A Woman (1994), a rather under-rated drama starring Meg Ryan; and the terrific Nobody's Fool (1994) (****), a leisurely, intelligent mix of comedy and drama starring Paul Newman and Jessica Tandy. Mr Hoffman brought much-needed energy to his role in the 1996 blockbuster Twister (1996), but more importantly he teamed up with auteur film-maker Paul Thomas Anderson in the director's first film Hard Eight (1996) (****), starring Philip Baker Hall and John C. Reilly. Despite limited screen time, this would become a cinematically fruitful partnership, with Mr Hoffman having key roles in Anderson's Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), and The Master (2012). Other films Mr Hoffman appeared in were Patch Adams (1998); Flawless (1999) with Robert De Niro; State And Main (2000) starring Alec Baldwin and William H. Macy; Red Dragon (2002) with Anthony Hopkins; 25th Hour (2002), directed by Spike Lee; Cold Mountain (2003); Along Came Polly (2004); the TV movie Empire Falls (2005), teaming again with Paul Newman; Mission : Impossible 3 (2006); Synecdoche, New York (2008); the animated Mary And Max (2009); The Boat That Rocked (2009) which features an all-star cast; The Invention Of Lying (2009) with Ricky Gervais; and the sequel The Hunger Games : Catching Fire (2013). Mr Hoffman still has a few projects due for release over the next12 months, including God's Pocket, the terrorist-themed A Most Wanted Man (which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year), and two more entries in The Hunger Games franchise. He will also appear in the upcom-
ing TV series Happyish. With character actors becoming a thing of the past, Philip Seymour Hoffman was the real deal, a true actor who dove into the roles he was playing, and his death leaves a huge hole in the entertainment world. His immense talent and conviction however has left us with an overwhelming gallery of distinctive, utterly convincing, and truly memorable performances, and he will be remembered for as long as people love watching movies and the great acting that can resonate within them. Here is a list of films where Mr Hoffman's work as an actor has to be seen, enjoyed, and admired. Boogie Nights (1997) (****½); The Big Lebowski (1998) (****½); Happiness (1998) (****½); The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) (****); Almost Famous (2000) (****); Love Liza (2002) (***½); Punch-Drunk Love (2002) (****½); Owning Mahowny (2003) (****½); Capote (2005) (**** - Won BestActor Oscar); The Savages (2007) (****½); Before The Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) (****); Charlie Wilson's War (2007) (***); Doubt (2008) (***½); Jack Goes Boating (2010) (***½); The Ides Of March (2011) (****): Moneyball (2011) (****); The Master (2012) (****½); Performance (2012) (***½). - Aaron Rourke
Monkey King ■ 3D (M). 120 minutes. Still showing in selected cinemas. Large-scale adaptation of the forever-popular Journey To The West novel, which like The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, will be played out over a series of films. Elaborate effects, colourful production and costume design, and eye-popping use of 3D tends to overwhelm the story and characters, which does prove frustrating as this first outing is setting everything up for the sequels. The cast, including a relaxed, charismatic Chow Yun-Fat (Anna And The King), Aaron Kwok, and an unrecognisable Donnie Yen as the title character all do their best to rise above the sheer weight of the production, which reportedly topped $100 million. Director Soi Cheang (Dream Home) does an admirable, if convoluted, job in delivering a huge, effects-laden extravaganza that still attempts to stay faithful (in part) to this beloved tale, one that has had numerous incarnations over the last five decades (Australian viewers would most certainly recognise the Japanese TV series from the late 70s, which has become a cult success here). For those familiar with the story, the end will definitely raise a smile, making one look forward to film number two, which hopefully will feel more cohesive. RATING - ***. ■ DVDs and Blu-Rays kindly supplied by Video Vision, 177-179 Carlisle Street, Balaclava. Nearly all the titles mentioned are available on DVD. For information or bookings on these titles please call 9531 2544.
Top 10 Lists THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET. 2. 12 YEARS A SLAVE. 3. THE BOOK THIEF. 4. FROZEN. 5. SAVING MR. BANKS. 6. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY :THE MARKED ONES. 7. PHILOMENA. 8. JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT. 9. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG. 10. 47 RONIN. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: FEBRUARY 6: LABOR DAY, LAST VEGAS, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS, ROBOCOP, THE PAST. FEBRUARY 13: ARE WE OFFICIALLY DATING?, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR, ENDLESS LOVE, THE DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, WINTER'S TALE. THE DVD TOP RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. RUSH [Biographical/Drama/ Action/Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl]. 2. BLUE JASMINE [Drama/Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard]. 3. RIDDICK [Science Fiction/Action/Vin Diesel, Katee Sackhoff]. 4. RED 2 [Action/Comedy/Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Anthony Hopkins]. 5. WE'RE THE MILLERS [Comedy/ Crime/Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis]. 6. NOW YOU SEE ME [Crime/ Mystery/Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson]. 7. RUNNER RUNNER [Drama/Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake, Gemma Arterton]. 8. LOVELACE [Drama/Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Juno Temple]. 9. GROWN UPS 2 [Comedy/Kevin James, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler]. 10. THE WOLVERINE [Action/SciFi/Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Will Yun Lee]. Also: WHITE HOUSE DOWN, THE BEST OFFER, EMPIRE STATE, KICK ASS 2, PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS, THE WORLD'S END, ELYSIUM, PAIN & GAIN, PACIFIC RIM, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY - The Extended Edition, WORLD WAR Z. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: THE FAMILY [Action/Comedy/ Crime/Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer]. DIANA [Biographical/Drama/ Naomi Watts, Naveen Andrews]. MYSTERY ROAD [Crime/Mystery/ Drama/Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten]. 2 GUNS [Action/Crime/Mystery/ Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington]. ALAN PARTRIDGE: ALPHA PAPA [Comedy/Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney]. ABOUT TIME [Comedy/Romance/ Tom Hollander, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy]. DON JON [Comedy/Drama/Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson]. Turn To Page 43
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Page 37
Observer Showbiz
Local Theatre With Cheryl Threadgold
‘Out of the water’ at St Kilda SHOWS ■ Red Stitch Actors' Theatre: Out of the Water (by Brooke Berman) Until March 8 at the Red Stitch Theatre, 2 Chapel Street, St Kilda. Director: Nadia Tass. Bookings: 9533 8082. www.redstitch.net ■ fortyfivedownstairs: Evolution, Revolution and the Mail Order Bride (Written and performed by Zulya Kamalova) Until February 16 at fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Tickets: $35/$30. Bookings: 9662 9966 www.fortyfivedownstairs.com ■ La Mama Theatre: The Madness of the Day Until February 16 at La Mama Theatre, 205 Faraday Street, Carlton. Director: Lawrence Stranglo. Bookings: 9347 6142 www.lamama.com.au ■ Peridot Theatre: The Hallelujah Girls Until February 22, 2.15pm matinees February 9, 15 and 4.00pm matinee February 16 at the Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Road, Mount Waverley. Director: Annie Blood. Bookings: 9898 9090 (between 10.00am and 3.00pm Monday to Friday) or peridotboxoffice@ yahoo.com.au ■ Geelong Repertory Theatre Company: Almost, Maine (by John Cariani), Until February 22 at the Woodbin Theatre, Coronation Street, Geelong West. Director: Kelly Clifford. Tickets: $25. Bookings: 5225 1200 www.geelongrep.com.au ■ Stageworx Theatre: Delicious Divas February 13 - 22 at 3/21 Stud Road, Bayswater. Directors: Julia Roper and Trish Carr; Musical Director: Craig Minty. Tickets: $20. Bookings: http:// www.trybooking.com/EDIN Enquiries: 9751 2886 or theatre 9729 8368. ■ Williamstown Little Theatre: Almost, Maine (by John Cariani), February 13 - March 1 at 2 Albert Street, Williamstown. Director: Kris Weber. Tickets: $25/$22. Bookings: wlt.org.au/ bookings 9885 9678. ■ Ilbijerri Theatre Company: Little Black Bastard February 13 - 15 at Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne. Tickets: $25/$20. Students $15. Bookings: 9322 3713 artshouse.com.au ■ Mordialloc Theatre Company: Quartet (by Ronald Harwood) February 14 - March 1 (two Sunday matinees) at the Shirley Burke Theatre, 64 Parkers Road,Parkdale. Director: Eric Heyes. ■ The Basin Theatre Group: Quartet (by Ronald Harwood) February 14 - March 8 at 8.00pm (Sunday matinees at 2.00pm) at The Basin Theatre, Corner Doongalla and Simpson Roads, The Basin. Director: Graham Fry. Tickets: $25, Groups of ten plus $20. Bookings: 1300 784 668 (between 7.00 and 9.00pm only). www.thebasintheatre.org.au ■ Eltham Little Theatre: Natural Causes (by Eric Chappell), February 14 - March 1 at 8.00pm, February 23 at 2.00pm at the Eltham Performing Arts Centre, 1605 Main Road, Research. Director: Mel de Bono. Bookings: 0411 713 095 or www.elthamlittletheatre.org.au ■ La Mama Theatre: The Great Game until February 16 at La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street, Carlton. Tickets: $25/$15. Bookings: www.lamama.com.au ■ Chapel Off Chapel: An Afternoon with Actor/Musician George Huxley Monday, February 17 at 2.00pm at 12 Little Chapel St., Prahran. Host: Robert Chuter. Tickets: $5.50 (can be purchased at box office on day). ■ La Mama Theatre: This Is What It Feels Like (by Lauren Bailey and Adam J. A. Cass) February 19 - March 2 (Wed, Sun at 6.30pm, Thurs, Fri, Sat at 8.30pm) at 205 Faraday Street, Carlton. Bookings: 9347 6142 www.lamama.com.au ■ Theatre Works: Pacific Overtures by Stephen Sondheim and John Wiedman February 19 - March 9 at Theatre Works, 14 Acland Street, St Kilda. Director: Alister Smith; Musical Director: Robyn Womersley; Choreographer: Michael Ralph. Tickets: $39 full, $20 concession, $49 Gala Night. Bookings: 9534 3388. ■ Brighton Theatre Company: As Bees in Honey Drown (by Douglas Carter Beane) February 20 - March 8 at the Brighton Arts and Cultural Centre, Corner Wilson and Carpenter Streets, Brighton. Director: Peter Newling. Tickets: $23/$21. Bookings: 1300 752 126. ■ Australasian Chinese Theatre Company: A Wife's Revenge (by Moni Lai Storz) and Hyperreality (by Lian Low) February 21, 22, 23 at 8.30pm at 11 Cole Street, Brighton. Tickets: $25/ $12. Bookings: trybooking.com/EEUA www.australasian chinesetheatre.com ■ Sherbrooke Theatre Company Inc.: Play in a Day February 22 from 7.30pm to midnight at Doncaster Secondary College, Church Road, Doncaster. Pay at door. www.sherbrooketc.org.au ■ Cardinia Performing Arts Centre (CPAC): Whistle Down the Wind February 22 - March 7 at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, Lakeside Blvd., Pakenham. Tickets: $32 Adults, $29 Concession, $25 Children U15, Family $100. Bookings: 0407 090 354. ■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): The Secret Tent (by Elizabeth Addyman) February 27 - March 9 at the Strathmore Community Hall, Corner Loeman and Napier Streets, Strathmore. Tickets: $20/$15. Bookings: 9382 6284 www.stagtheatre.org/reservations
Melbourne
Observer EAST END CABARET
Little Black Bastard
● Noel Tovey. Photo: Steven Rhall ■ The Ilbijerri Theatre Company presents the final season of Little Black Bastard on February 13, 14, 15 at Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall. This gripping and tender autobiographical monologue – from street kid to show-biz star – will be presented in North Melbourne, the suburb where Noel Tovey spent some of his harshest childhood years. Told with candour, dignity and flashes of humour, this production of Little Black Bastard has been newly developed with a sense of resolution, healing and completion. One of five children abandoned by his parents at a young age, Tovey struggled through a rough childhood on the streets of Melbourne, and at 17 (after serving a sentence at Pentridge Prison) ran away to London and reinvented himself as a dancer, actor, singer, choreographer and director on some of the world’s great stages. Australia’s first Aboriginal ballet dancer, Tovey describes his life and times from post-war Melbourne to swinging sixties London and beyond, where his peers included film and theatre’s artistic elite. Written and performed by Noel Tovey, with Robina Beard as director/dramaturge, one of Australia’s artistic, indigenous elders will recount his astonishing story of triumph and transformation. Season: February 13 – 15 at 7.30pm, with post-show Q and A on February 15 Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes, no interval Venue: Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne Tickets: Full $25, Conc $20, Student $15 Bookings: artshouse.com.au or 9322 3713
SHOWS ■ Chapel Off Chapel: Show-Off-At-Chapel February 28 from 10.30pm onwards at 12 Little Chapel St., Prahran. Host: Trevor Jones. A late-night, post-show, foyer showcase of new and loved acts performed for you by emerging or established talents, or those simply game enough to get up and Show-off their skills. Email showoffatchapel@gmail.com with details of two songs you would like to perform. Free event. ■ Malvern Theatre Company: Trap for a Lonely Man (by Robert Thomas) February 28 - March 15 at 29 Burke Road, East Malvern. Director: Kevin Trask. Tickets: $20. Bookings: 1300 131 552.
● Comedy double act Bernadette Byrne and Victor Victoria, are bringing their new show, Dirty Talk, to the Famous Spiegeltent in March. ■ Salacious and audacious, the UK's hottest musical comedy double act EastEnd Cabaret will be bringing their new show, Dirty Talk, to the Famous Spiegeltent for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Winners of the Adelaide Fringe 'Best Cabaret' award, Bernadette Byrne (deviant diva) and Victor Victoria (moustachioed half man, half woman musician) are ready to captivate and titillate Melbourne's comedy loving audiences with a show that is unashamedly filthy and unforgettably funny. Fresh from a triumphant run at Edinburgh Fringe in 2013, their show is a mix of comedy, an array of instruments from the accordion to the musical saw, and original comic songs including an 80s inspired sex fantasy about David Bowie, and an ode to the joy of Bavarian karma sutra. The duo's previous show, Notoriously Kinky, garnered a stack of five star reviews at the Adelaide Fringe, and sold out the Famous Spiegeltent at the Melbourne Arts Centre. Since then, the London based, Australian-born pair have performed around Europe and the UK, filmed episodes for BBC's comedy television show, Live At The Electric, and were named among a prestigious list of 'innovators and pioneers' working in the UK creative industries. Venue : The Famous Spiegeltent, Federation Square Dates: March 27 (preview) 28 to 30, April 3 to 6 Tickets: $28 (full price), $22 (preview/concession/group/ Laugh Pack) Times: 10pm (9 pm Sundays) Bookings: Ticketmaster or at the door
AUDITIONS ■ The Mount Players: Harold and Maude (by Colin Higgins) February 15, 16 at 10.00am at the Mountview Theatre, 56 Smith Street, Macedon. Director: Craig Lenaine-Smith. Enquiries: 0416 062 371. ■ ARC Theatre Company: All Shook Up February 16 at 4.00pm and February 17 at 7.00pm at St Gabriel's Parish Hall, Viola Street, Reservoir. Director: Liam Kilgour; Musical Director: Rebecca Dupy-Purcell; Choreographer: Narada Edgar. Audition bookings: 0435 062 087 or auditions@arc-theatre.com ■ Mooroolbark Theatre Group: Noises Off (by Michael Frayn) February 20 at 7.00pm at the Mooroolbark Community Centre, 125 Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark. Director: Yvonne Miller. Enquiries: 9736 3737. ■ Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company Inc: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (by Jim Cartwright) February 23 at 11.00am at the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre, Castella Street, Lilydale. Director: Justin Stephens. Enquiries: littlevoice@ innocent.com http://lilydaleatc.com/ ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: Dixie Swim Club (by Nicholas Hope, Jamie Wooton and Jessie Jones) February 23, 24 at 7.00pm at 36 Turnham Avenue, Rosanna. Director: Gayle Poor. Enquiries: gaylepoor@hotmail.com ■ Peridot Theatre: Play Readings: One Act Plays February 26 at 7.30pm at the Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Road, Mount Waverley. Plays for the June One Act Play season include No Strings (by John Tilbrook), By the Half (by Jimmie Chin) and Peter Stone (by Alison Knight). If attending, please contact Alison Knight on a8knight@bigpond.net.au ■ Strathmore Community Theatre Group (STAG): Barefoot in the Park (by Neil Simon) February 26 at 7.00pm, March 2 at 10.00am at the Strathmore Community Centre, Corner Loeman and Napier Streets, Strathmore. Director: Natasha Boyd. Enquiries: 0413 188 513.
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Page 38 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 g y, y , Melbourne
Observer
Lovatts Crossword No 5 Across
Across
1. Heavy rainfall 6. Canary or nightingale 11. Mob hanging 15. Incinerated (corpse) 20. Gallivant 21. Weird 22. The masses, ... polloi 23. Business conversation 24. Reprimand 25. Dead skin in hair 27. Most depressing 28. Holler 29. Boo-boo 31. Dublin republic 32. Black Sea port 36. The A of USA 37. Self-murder 38. Upper 41. Languished 44. Gowned 45. Noosed rope 48. Spanked 49. Radio crackle 52. Retaliate for 56. Gigantic 57. Las Vegas is there 58. Sleep 61. Inflexibility 62. Intervals 63. Cosy corners 64. At no stage 65. Skimpy bikini bottom (1-6) 66. Renewed 67. Resign (5,4) 71. Indian woman's forehead mark 73. Young owl 75. Nourishing substances 80. Fiesta, Mardi ... 82. More agile 83. Calf-length skirt 85. Stinginess 86. Gazing lecherously at 88. Lead astray 90. Without thinking 91. Relinquished (land) 93. Magazine users 94. Lamented 95. Reduce 96. Bends out of shape 97. Japanese wrestling 99. Flour factory 100. Vehement 104. Snapshots book 105. Perfect 106. Scale 107. Relents (5,2) 111. Proficient 113. Sick 114. Cry of delight 115. Escape adroitly 117. Bump 118. Flanks 121. Wild rose 122. Poet, ... Allan Poe 125. American president, Ronald ... 126. Salt Lake City state 127. Exploited 129. Famed lioness 131. Wine, ... spumante 132. Paler 135. Oil-exporting cartel 136. Singer, ... Etheridge 139. Speed measurement 140. Confused 144. Nunavut native 145. Wire 146. Biscuit topping 147. US island prison 148. Scandalised
149. Dinners or lunches 150. Crocodile Dundee star, Paul ... 152. Brahma follower 154. Sends (money) 157. East Timor's capital 158. Foot arches 162. Part of eye 163. Exotic flower 166. Loop 167. Missile-launch pit 169. Nevada divorce city 171. Taj Mahal site 172. Fleet 173. Takes a break 175. Indigenous New Zealander 176. Acute remorse 179. Burnt brightly 180. Mountain chain 182. Relaxation art, ... chi (1'2) 183. Food additive (1,1,1) 184. Regal 186. Oval 189. Communications industry 190. Not anybody (2-3) 191. Of sound system 192. Freshness 196. Sacred ritual 197. Pig in a ... 198. Dummy pill 199. Paralysed 201. Tennis ace, Gabriela ... 202. Men's neck scarves 203. Capital of South Korea 204. Shameful secret, ... in the cupboard 205. Away from home, far ... 208. Movie theatre 210. News footage 211. Petticoat 212. Understand 213. Personal identity 215. Indigestion 219. Striped equine 221. Hospital worker 223. Supervisors 227. Prefabricated (concrete) 228. Unlock 230. Depart 231. Lace frill 232. Percussion instruments 233. Earth's environment, Mother ... 234. Temporary relief 238. Gaps 239. Design-tracing device 240. Rots 243. Group loyalty, ... de corps 246. Car repair set (4,3) 247. Desist 250. Swindle 251. NZ PM, ... Clark 253. Resupplies with weapons 256. Duplicate 257. Hoisting anchor cry (5-2) 258. Cruelty 262. West African country 263. Glue 266. Madam (2'2) 268. Writer, James ... 269. Nervous disorder 270. Aggravate 271. Many 272. Rascal 273. Surplus 274. LA suburb, ... Air 275. Spouse's boys 276. Holstered pistols (4,4) 277. Alberta's capital 278. Tooth doctors
Down 1. Nightclub 2. Belonging to whom? 3. Golfing strokes 4. Unattractive 5. Scrape together (4,2) 7. Tidiest 8. Between 9. Investigate 10. Venison animal 11. Open-air pool 12. January 1st, New ... (4'1,3) 13. Strong painkiller 14. Accustoming 15. Hooded snakes 16. Infuriate 17. Florida resort 18. Fangs 19. Discourage 24. Garbed 26. Touch 30. Manlike machine 33. Wettest 34. Part 35. Corrected 38. Huskier 39. Eucalypt 40. No longer existing (of species) 42. Dedicatory poems 43. Dodging (duty) 46. Kabul currency unit 47. Complacent 49. Flood-protection sack 50. Decorate 51. Dispatching 53. Retailers 54. Of shipping 55. Inconsistent 59. Still vivid (of memory) 60. Glorified 67. Japanese warrior 68. Insistent 69. Underground cell 70. Utterly preoccupied 72. Pakistan's capital 74. Striving to equal 76. Vibrated 77. Accuses 78. Spaghetti-like items 79. Enlists (5,2) 81. Skiffs 84. Christmas month 87. Lucky escape (4,4) 89. Enhances 91. Director, ... Mille (5,1,2) 92. Disapproves strongly of 98. Twins star sign 101. Dragonfly larva 102. Make into law 103. Sixth planet from sun 108. Taken from plane (of photo) 109. Heavy antelope 110. Established practice 112. School test 116. Unstintingly 119. Impetuous 120. Christian sacrament 123. Eternal punishment 124. Attributes 128. Involve in conflict 130. Milk sugar
Down
132. Propeller sound 133. Mode of expression 134. Octagon number 137. Sits idly 138. Uttered 141. Raise objections 142. Unwilling 143. Gave medicine to 151. Academy Awards 153. Achievable 155. Register 156. From Baghdad 159. Appointees 160. Employed (4,2) 161. Ancient 164. Length of metal links 165. Notions 168. Formerly Constantinople 170. City devastated by A-bomb 173. Curative 174. Hit with glancing blow 177. Faintness 178. Equatorial 181. Spray cans 185. Humorous account 186. Unveiled 187. Layabouts 188. Go in front 193. Stoat-like animals 194. Issue (from) 195. Procedures 200. Skilled arguers 201. Japanese meat dish 206. Died away, ... out 207. Curtains, cloth, etc 208. Middles 209. Most submissive 211. Tastes 214. Debarred 216. Longest Asian river 217. Simpler 218. Outdoor meals 220. French peak, Mont ... 222. Happen repeatedly 224. Motives 225. Allowed 226. Travelling stagehands 229. ... & hearty 232. Distribute, ... out 235. Tendency to fantasise 236. Iron 237. Tied 241. Explain in detail 242. Grand Canyon state 244. Tenor, ... Domingo 245. Imprecise 248. Panics 249. Ireland (poetic) 251. Residence 252. Lent to 253. Frisks 254. Paris landmark, ... Triomphe (3,2) 255. Fulfils (demand) 259. Delegate 260. Religious statues 261. Veils 262. Hitler's ... Kampf 264. Serpents 265. Grow weary 267. Donkey/horse cross
Solution on Page 29
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Page 39
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SATURDAY COMMUNITY MARKET WHITTLESEA. Sat., Feb. 15. 8am-1pm. 3rd Sat. of each month. Whittle-sea Secondary College, Laurel St. Mel 246, G10. Single sites from $20. Enquiries: 0419 357 395. Arts, crafts, plants, clothes, food and more. -F-G★ ---------------------------------------------------
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LATEST THEATRE NEWS
Showbiz Briefs ■ The photographic exhibition, A Traveller's Dream: Piranesi and Rome, by multi-award winning Italian photographer Graziano Panfili, will be opening at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura (Italian Cultural Institute) Melbourne on Tuesday, February 25. ■ Postcards, the Channel 9 lifestyle and travel program about Victoria, returned on Sunday at 5.30pm. Presenters include Glen Moriarty, Lauren Phillip, Brodie Harper and Shane Crawford. ■ Peter Helliar will perform two shows of Totes Grouseballs at the Comedy Theatre on April 12 and 19. ■ Bangarra Dance Theatre's senior dancer Daniel Riley will be departing to pursue dance opportunities in Europe. ■ John Safran presents a second show Murder In Mississippi at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, at 4pm on Sunday, April 13.
Special ‘Observer’ Reader Offer SHOWS Diana Trask Daughter of Australia CD
A newly released CD by one of Australia's popular singers
$20 including postage Diana was one of the first popular Australian singers to be successful in the USA but soon after many others followed: Helen Reddy, Olivia Newton-John and in recent times Keith Urban. Diana's success began on the Sing Along with Mitch TV Show from New York. Coming back to Australia she had a national hit TV show The Di Trask Show. A little later Diana moved to Nashville and a string of hit songs and albums in the country music field followed. Dear Friends, I am so happy and excited to release our new CD Daughter of Australia Australia.. The response to the songs on this album during my recent Victorian tour was overwhelming. I trust the readers of The M elbourne Observer will Melbourne enjoy this CD which is a collection of my old hits and some of my new compositions. With love, Diana To: T erprises Trrask Ent Enterprises x 200 erbury ic 3126 Box 200,, Cant Canterbury erbury,, V Vic PO Bo
LATEST THEATRE NEWS
Eerie night in Melb. ■ As the sun sets on White Night (Sat., Feb. 22), Arts Centre Melbourne will become a site of bewitching entertainment, including an eerily beautiful self-playing piano and all-night ghost tours in the depths below the stages. From 7pm-7am, visitors to Hamer Hall will feel the presence of Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff in Rachmaninoff Live, in which a beautifully restored player piano will expertly recreate the composer’s infamously difficult repertoire. The ghosts of productions past will also be evoked in the popular Phantoms Of The Theatre Ghost Tours departing every 15 minutes from the concierge desk from 7pm onwards in Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building. www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
Pause Fest at Sq. ■ Pause Fest emerges as Australia’s most progressive digital festival. Now in its fourth year, Pause Fest is a city-wide celebration of new media with Federation Square as its hub. The festival includes more than 2000 creatives, designers and artists coming together at more than 20 events with large public installations and activations throughout the Melbourne CBD. www.fedsquare.com
■ Empire by Spiegelworld returns to Melbourne (Rooftop at Crown) where it will play from March 11. See photo of Miss A (at right).
IB Visual Arts ■ The opening of the International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Exhibition 2014 will take place at the Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Caulfield, at 6.30pm on Friday (Feb. 14).
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Page 42 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014
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Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport
Australian Cup carnival begins ■ This time of the year is eagerly anticipated by greyhound racing followers, with the rich Australian Cup carnival raced at the Broadmeadows circuit, The Meadows. While the jewel in the crown, the $350,000 Australian Cup, is not held until March 1, there is a host of top class racing due before then. This Saturday night (Feb. 15), three Group One races are programmed the Temlee, Rookie Rebel and Zoom Top, races which are named in honour of three great chasers of years gone by. Fields for these events are decided by invitation, with a list of chasers selected by a panel for each event, and trainers of the dogs then invited to accept of decline the invite. The $150,000 Temlee over 525 metres will feature the following dogs (not in box draw order): Banjo Boy, Dyna Nalin, Innocent Til, Kiss Me Ketut, Paw Licking, Peter Rocket, Tomac Bale, Zelemar Fever. The $110,000 Rookie Rebel run over 600 metres: Alpe D'Huez, Bookkeeper, Cakes And Pies, Daintree Emperor, General Destini, Hawk Alone, Spirited Flame, Xylia Allen. And the $110,000 Zoom Top over 725 metres contains Benarkin, Born Ali, Cheetah Zorro, Destini Fireball, Dyna Willow, Lucy Wires, Maddison Dee, Dyna Kayla. West Australian chaser Dyna Nalin will be looking to become the first chaser to win both Group 1 sprint invitationals at The Meadows (he won the Topgun in October) after making this year’s Temlee.
Greyhounds
with Kyle Galley The Paul Stuart-trained chaser would push his prizemoney to over $618,000 if successful this Saturday night.
Capital ideas ■ Three major reconstruction projects in Victorian greyhound racing are on the drawing board - but the issue might be in the timing of the projects. Capital works are required at the Traralgon, Cranbourne and Horsham venues. However the situation is hampered by the fact that Traralgon cannot race at night - the majority of the track light poles were removed last year for safety reasons. This would mean that should the Cranbourne project be given first priority, Traralgon would receive that club's meetings, however they are limited by where they can fit into the racing schedule becuase of a lack of lights. It had been intended for the
Traralgon redevelopment to have commenced by now, but the project has been delayed due apparently to the need to trim some fat from the costs. A new racetrack and public grandstand were on the agenda for the Traralgon Racecourse, but some fine tuning on the overall cost is now required before a timeframe can be given for the commencement of works. Over at Cranbourne, the various users of the complex have banded together to secure funding for a redevelopment of their grandstand. The Greyhound Racing Club would like to rebuild their track at the same time. However given that Traralgon and Cranbourne boasts similar track types, it is not practical to have both venues closed at the same time, meaning the Traralgon project will need to wait until after Cranbourne is completed, or vice versa. Works at Horsham will incorporate a partial rebuild of the existing track, and no doubt club officials there are very keen for that work to progress sooner rather than later.
Strong field ■ Talking of Traralgon, the club staged its annual Floodfawn Damsels Dash race last Thursday afternoon (Feb. 6) which attracted a strong field. Darriman (near Sale) trained bitch Surfonic claimed a very handy winner's purse of $6000 for trainer Jennifer Gill and connections. Surfonic pounced on the lead im-
mediately from box three and produced a strong win in good time. Surfonic was bred in Queensland and boasts 15 wins and 19 placings from 52 starts, and has now won five races at Traralgon so obviously she likes the track. Floodfawn was a brilliant race dog in the late 1990s who won a string of races at the Traralgon course. She was trained locally by Peter Giles and bred and owned by Arthur Cooper, who called greyhound races for Sky Channel for some years before moving into a commentary role overseas.
One to follow ■ Greyhound Arvo's Euro might not reach the dizzy heights of feature race success but I thought the dog was worth marking down as "one to follow" after an unlucky run at Warragul last week. It was only a maiden race but Arvo's Euro struck trouble early on, and finished fifth. But I did like the way the dog stretched out and made some late ground once it finally got a clear look at the lure in the home straight. Kali Arvanitis trains Arvo's Euro at Nyora in South Gippsland, and I reckon if they take the dog to nearby Cranbourne for a race over a longer distance it might not be a maiden for much longer.
Upcoming race meetings ■ Wednesday: The Meadows (Day), Bendigo (Twilight), Cranbourne (Night), Ballarat (Night); Thursday: Warragul (D), Shepparton (T), Sandown Park (N), Warrnambool (N); Friday: Traralgon (T), Bendigo (N), Geelong (N); Saturday: The Meadows (N); Sunday: Healesville (D), Sandown Park (D), Sale (T); Monday: Ballarat (D), Geelong (T), Shepparton (N); Tuesday: Horsham (T), Warragul (N).
Sulky Snippets ■ Inglewood duo Trevor Ralph (trainer) and Peter Sanderson (driver) were successful with a lovely Bacardi Lindy/Perfect Report 4-Y-0 gelding by the name of Rumbustious at Ballarat, taking out the Irish Murphys Trotters Mobile for T0 class over 2200 metres which was no surprise considering his recent form. Raced by the Ralph family and others including Wedderburn's Gavan Holt, Rumbustious began with a wing on every foot from gate six to lead easily and never at any stage looked likely to lose, scoring untouched by 6.4 metres from the roughies Bubba Macray which trailed and Im Nota Trotter in a rate of 2-05.8. More from Len Baker, P44
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Page 43
Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport
Showbiz Extra ■ From Page 36
Top 10 Lists
Australian Guineas query ■ With leading trainer, Robbie Laing still wondering whether he will set his Victoria Derby winner, Polanski, for the Australian Guineas has left the race wide open. The Sydneysider, Bull Point, was most impressive in winning at Caulfield, and his trainer, Gai Waterhouse, feels that he has a second to none chance of winning the cClassic, worth at least $400,000 to the winning connections. The South Australian youngster, Hucklebuck, has a ton of ability, and will be a definite chance, as the 1600 metres of the spacious Flemington track won't worry him. Among others entered for the big one, the Mick Price-trained Lion of Belfort is very smart and will be in the firing line for along time. The Cox Plate winner, Shamus Award, is ideally suited, and being trained on the track by Danny O'Brien, is another of the best chances. The enigma is the beautifully bred colt, Prince Harada, by the brilliant racehorse, Haradasun, who was placed in a Cox Plate and won overseas. Prepared by leading horseman, Tony Vasil, at Caulfield, Prince Harada has only won one race so far with an unlucky second, but is breaking his connections hearts. At Caulfield at his last start he was backed off the map, but failed to flatter again, after looking a treat finishing fourth. Tony Vasil is still adamant that Prince Harada is still the best he has trained, if you go by looks he would win every time; he is a striking colt. Could it be one or several problems, such as a hidden injury or does he need cutting. Tony is one of the nicest blokes in the racing business and deserves to get another top class horse let's hope he can work it out.
Ted Ryan
● Bullpoint Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
dynasties will be dispersed at the Magic Millions national sale during May and June. The Teeley Assets Complete Unreserved Dispersal of Broodmares and Reduction Sale of weanlings and race fillies will give buyers the opportunity to secure bloodstock from some of the country's best sought after families. The horses will be presented at the auction by Arrowfield Stud, who will act as the selling agent for Teeley Assets. The quality packed draft will go under the hammer unreserved, at the Gold Coast from May 26 to June 5 . Since emerging on the scene with the purchase of Grand Producer, Shantha's Choice in 1993, Teeley Assets owner, Muzaffar Yareen. has developed a highly successful thoroughbred operation. Shantha's Choice, his first yearling purchase for $ 220,000, was a Victorian winner, but was prematurely retired through
injury after just two starts. She was then sent to emerging Sire, Danehill, in her maiden season at stud. The result was Redoute's Choice, one the thoroughbred industry's greatest success stories. A winner of Group One Blue Diamond Stakes at two, Redoute's Choice, notched up five wins, including four at racing's elite level before being retired to Arrowfield Stud, where he has been an outstanding success. In the ensuing years, Mr. Yaseen's, Teeley Assets has assembled one of the country's most impressive bloodstock portfolios-breeding and racing many stars, including last year's Blue Diamond Stakes winner, Miracles Of Life, as well as stallions Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors. The unreserved sale at the Gold Coast will comprise 51 broodmares, 31 wean-
lings, 4 yearlings and a select group of race fillies, including Taste Of Heaven and Drifting Cube. The dispersal sale will include outstanding prospects, Monsoon Wedding (in foal to Pierro), Precious Lorraine (in foal to Stratum), Ten Carat (in foal to Fastnet Rock) and Broken Shore (in foal to Fastnet Rock). Other lots to go under the hammer in the dispersal sale are stake winners Abbadeena, Beauty School, Estelle Collection, Fritz's Princess, Gina Lollawitcha, Whisper Bay and Zipanese as well as the dams of Group One winners Absolutely, Cheeky Choice
Top sale ■ An outstanding line up of broodmares from one of Australia's most successful thoroughbred
● Shamus Award Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
● Harada Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 and Miracles of Life. were top jockey Damien Oliver and his lovely wife Tricia and his wonderful chil■ Had a great day at dren. Among the guests Ripples Chinese Restaurantcelebrating was leading young the birthdays of Vic trainer, Jason Petch, Beitzel and his son and his partner, along with the Racing Editor Noel. The name Beitzel of the Winning Post is well known the newspaper, Tony sporting arena with Kneebone. Another great idenVic, known as Peeping Pete with the late great tity attending, was one race caller Bert of the greatest jockeys Bryant in the early to grace the scene, days on radio station Ron Hutchinson, who rode internationally, 3UZ. Vic reached the after a sensational cagrand old age of 91 on reer in Australia. It was a great day, February 6 , and to help him celebrate and proved that even was his well known at 91, Vic hasn't lost his brother, Harry, well sense of humour, and known from his ex- is still as smart as a ploits on the football whip. field as a central umpire and later the No.1 football commentator on radio station 3AW. ■ The Relaxed RacHarry is around the ing promotion got un88 mark, but looked derway at Caulfield well, making his way with a gathering of down from near Woy racing personalities, Woy, in country New media, and a very speSouth Wales, near cial guest and his family. Gosford. International RugAfter leaving the umpiring scene and by League star, Billy 3AW, he was tied up Slater was the star atwith the Sydney traction. Relaxed Racing is Swans for a number of promotion set up by years. Harry also has his Racing Victoria, to get football column each people to attend racweek in the football ing all over Victoria in season, in the Mel- a relaxed manner, including the casual bourne Observer. Also in attendance dress style.
Ripples
Relaxed
JACKIE [Drama/Holly Hunter, Carice van Houten]. NEW & RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: CHARLES BRONSON TRIPLE PACK: Cold Sweat, Lola, Someone Behind The Door. CHARLES BRONSON WESTERN COLLECTION: Chino, Cabo Blanco, Red Sun. BIG WESTERNS TRIPLE PACK: Take a Hard Ride, Captain Apache, Death Rides a Horse. NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: GENERATION WAR [Mini-Series]. SUITS: Series 1 & 2. GRIMM: Season 2. THE OFFICE: Season 9 - Part 1 [Steve Carell]. DACAR RALLY: Race to Recovery. 2013 Motocross Of Nations. 2013 World Motorcross Review. 2013 AMA Motorcross Review. 2013 World Trials Outdoor Review. 2013 International 6 Days of Enduro Review. TOP BLU-RAY RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. RUSH [Biographical/Drama/Action/Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl]. 2. BLUE JASMINE [Drama/Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard]. 3. RIDDICK: Directors Cut [Science Fiction/ Action/Vin Diesel, Katee Sackhoff]. 4. RED 2 [Action/Comedy/Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Anthony Hopkins]. 5. WE'RE THE MILLERS [Comedy/Crime/Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis]. 6. RUNNER RUNNER [Drama/Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake, Gemma Arterton]. 7. GROWN UPS 2 [Comedy/Kevin James, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler]. 8. NOW YOU SEE ME [Crime/Mystery/Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson]. 9. WHITE HOUSE DOWN [Action/Thriller/ Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum]. 10. THE WOLVERINE [Action/Sci-Fi/Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Will Yun Lee]. Also: Lovelace, The Best Offer, Empire State, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Kick Ass 2, The World's End, Elysium, Pain & Gain, Pacific Rim, World War Z 3D + Blu-Ray. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: THE FAMILY [Action/Comedy/Crime/Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer]. DIANA [Biographical/Drama/Naomi Watts, Naveen Andrews]. MYSTERY ROAD [Crime/Mystery/Drama/ Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten]. 2 GUNS [Action/Crime/Mystery/Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington]. ALAN PARTRIDGE: ALPHA PAPA [Comedy/ Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney]. ABOUT TIME [Comedy/Romance/Tom Hollander, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy]. DON JON [Comedy/Drama/Joseph GordonLevitt, Scarlett Johansson]. SUITS: Series 1 & 2. GRIMM: Season 2. - James Sherlock
Sulky Snippets ■ Echuca's Lindberg family snared an overdue victory with stylish looking homebred 5-Y-0 Yankee Paco/Reba Supreme mare Star Style in the Burtons Store Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2240 metres at Swan Hill on Thursday in a rate of 2-02.9. Trained in the name of dad Peter, Star Style driven by son Steven was given a perfect passage one/one from a 20 metre handicap and always looked the winner in the run. With the leader The Final Cut being pressured by both Arctic Wolf and the 40 metre backmarker Im Demimondaine a long way out, Star Style was under triple wraps approaching the home turn on the back of Im Demimondaine as Arctic Wolf assumed control. Easing three wide on the final bend, Star Style put a gap on her rivals in a couple of strides, scoring by a huge margin of 33.9 metres over Arctic Wolf, with Im Demimondaine a further 3.4 metres away in third place. - Len Baker
Page 44 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014
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Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport Racing Briefs
Aggressive drive ■ Avenel's David Aiken has been on fire of late and also notched up a stable double at Cobram, with inform four year old Lis Mara/Triple Franco entire Our Warwick Lad and first starter Makemoremoney winning their respective races. Our Warwick Lad (Nathan Jack) was driven with aggression to lead from gate five in the Tom Stillard Memorial Pace for C4 to C6 class over 2170 metres and had too much quality for his rivals, running out a comfortable 7.3 metre victory over Doc Wilson's Indi Bapu which faced the breeze from last for the final circuit, with the well supported Timeseel a disappointing third after trailing the winner and using the sprint lane to no avail. The mile rate 1-57.6. Flash Money/Santarita colt Makemoremoney making his race debut, was impressive in the Terry Daniel 3-Y-0 Pace over 2170 metres, returning a mile rate of 1-59.8. Staring from inside the second row, Makemormoney was taken away from the markers shortly after the start to settle mid-field in the running line, with the hot favourite Honey Maravu leading from gate three. Taken three wide in the last lap to join the leader prior to the final bend, Makemoremoney went to the wire strongly to gain the day by a head from Diamond Ace which had every opportunity to run him down in the straight after easing three wide on turning, with Arrokeefe coming from a long way back to be 15.9 metres away in third place.
Won pace on debut ■ The highly successful combination of owner Rob Nalder and Long Forest trainer Andy Gath produced a nice type in Bettors Delight/LC Tricky colt Padrisimo to impressively land the Viatex 2-Y-0 Pace over 1710 metres on debut at Bray Raceway Ballarat on Tuesday February 4. Driven by Andy's wife Kate, Padrisimo wasn't pushed from gate two, settling three back the markers, with Shadow Of Fortune burning across the face of the field from outside the front row to lead. Easing away from the markers in the final circuit, Padrisimo showed a brilliant turn of speed to lead prior to the home turn, scoring by a margin of 14.1 metres in advance of Aurelius also on debut which followed him home, with Shadow Of Fortune holding down third. The mile rate 2-00.2.
Win No 11 at Ballarat ■ Parwan part-owner/trainer Jaime Madruga's honest D M Dilinger/JaJa gelding Amazing Kano chalked up his 11th victory in 64 outings by taking the Durham Park Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2200 metres at Ballarat. Taking a concession for Meltonian Zac Phillips, Amazing Kano (gate five) was restrained to settle five back along the markers, with in-form mare Union Belle leading from gate three. Moving to be one/one racing for the bell trailing Atomic Horizon, Amazing Kano when taken three wide on the home turn, finished strongly to blouse a game Atomic Horizon by a neck in 2-00.9, with Union Belle weakening to finish third.
Trailed pacemaker ■ Bacchus Marsh father and daughter - Alan and Amy Tubbs scored a terrific victory with Bettors Delight/Saabette mare Lierre Noir in the Tint Centralpace for C1 class over 1710 metres. Forced to do all of the work from gate five outside the pacemaker Action Royale (gate two), Lierre Noir dug deep on straightening to gain the day by 4.6 metres over Three Gold Bars which trailed the pacemaker, easing wide in the straight, with Crazy Dave running on late for third. The mile rate 1-58.4. Amy was on a high after winning the Mildura Drivers Championship the previous Friday, but was extremely disappointed when her all time favourite Melpark Major was retired after finishing unplaced at Melton on the Saturday.
Wins for Macedon Ranges area ■ The Kilmore meeting on Wednesday February 5 was a good one for the Macedon Ranges area which provided three winners on the program. Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley snared the Northern Fascia 2-Y-0 Pace over 1690 metres with Courage Under Fire/Yes Please Louise filly Miss Condoleezza in a mile rate of 159.6. Narrowly beaten by her stablemate Rebel Diamond on debut at Bendigo a week earlier, Miss Condoleezza with Greg Sugars in the sulky, went one better by leading throughout from gate two, defeating Smooth Mikaela which raced outside her for the last lap, with Married In White (one/ one last lap) third.
Control ■ The all conquering Riddell stable of Adam Kelly was successful with quality Art Major/ Badland's Legend filly My Bella Starr in the McIvor Estate Pace for C0 class over 2180 metres. First up from a short break, My Bella Starr (gate two on the second line) was aggressively driven by Gavin Lang, going forward to park outside the leader McRita and control the race. Applying plenty of pressure approaching the home turn, My Bella Starr was too strong over the concluding stages, scoring by 2 metres in a rate of 200 even over McRita, with Onetolove running on late from mid-field to finish third.
2 in row ■ Chris Alford's Four Starzzz Shark/Panas filly Tabanan brought up two wins in a row when successful in the Grange Cleveland Winery 3-Y-0 Pace over 1690 metres and in doing so, chalked up her 4th victory in 16 outings. Driven as if she was the best horse in the race, Tabanan was set alight from the extreme draw immediately the start was effected to obtain the lead hitting the front straight on the first occasion. Rated to perfection, Tabanan defied all challengers to score by 3.1 metres over the first starter Jay Dee Zed which shadowed her all of the way, with Sketch Me third after trailing the winner. Bred and raced by long time harness participants Christine and David Pettman, Tabanan returned a mile rate of 157.9.
Baker’s Delight
Harness Racing
This Week’s Meetings ■ Wednesday - Geelong @ Melton/Shepparton, Thursday - Kilmore/Bendigo, Friday - Ballarat, Saturday - Melton, Sunday - Charlton (Cup), Monday - Horsham, Tuesday - Cranbourne.
Horses To Follow Melbourne
Observer
len-baker@ bigpond.com
with Len Baker
Brilliant ■ When he's good he's very good, when he's bad he's horrid - thats the way to describe Gidah - the brilliant winner of the Nevett Ford Trotters Handicap for T2 or better class over 2200 metres at Bray Raceway Ballarat on Tuesday February 4. Trained at Longlea by part-owner Glenn Sharp, Gidah a 5-Y-0 gelded son of former champion Noopy Kiosk from Disco Dance, stepped safely from outside the front row on this occasion, charging across the face of the field to lead running into the first turn. With regular reinsman Nigel Milne not holding back, Gidah was allowed to run and that he did, getting his rivals off the bit and chasing a long way from home. Still a mile in front on the final bend, Gidah coasted to the wire 12.7 metres in advance of The Bohemian from mid-field to give Bendigo the quinella, with Another Clare which did all the chasing holding down third. The mile rate 2-04.9.
All Shepp. ■ Cobram was the venue for Wednesday trotting and as usual, plenty of winners came out of the Goulburn Valley, with Kialla's John Hallam landing a stable double Class Above Lombo taking the Jim Cox Memorial Pace for C0 class over 1670 metres and Ezee Duzit Lombo the Pat Brooks Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2170 metres. Class Above Lombo a 4-Y-0 Blissful Hall/ Decethree Lombo gelding driven by Nathan Jack, led throughout from gate two, defeating the roughie Ramblenroller (four wide home turn) and Lust (one/ one at bell) in a mile rate of 1-58.7. Six year old Million To One/Ezee Lombo mare Ezee Duzit Lombo chalked up her 11th vic-
Harness Review ■ Listen to Len Baker on Harness Review, 8pm-10pm Mondays, on 97.9 FM, streamed in 979fm.com.au tory in 51 outings. Taking a concession for Bec Bartley, Ezee Duzit Lombo led out from the pole, before relenting to the pressure of Abstract Lady running into the first turn. Pushing away from the markers approaching the home turn, Ezee Duzit Lombo proved too strong over the concluding stages to register a 3.6 metre victory in 1-58.5 over Abstract Lady, with John Newberry's Niquero (three back the markers) using the sprint lane to finish third in an all Shepparton finish.
On list ■ Nagambie trainer/ driver Chris Lang's former top line juvenile Lord Liam returned to the winners list with an easy 3.6 metre victory in the Bill Farrell Memorial Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over 2170 metres. Having little difficulty in leading from gate three, Lord Liam was always in control and wasn't pushed out to defeat Lucy Has Dreams (one/one - three wide home turn) and Featherfoot Sun from last at the bell in a rate of 202.7.
Sulky Snippets Extra ■ Award-winning harness racing reporter Len Baker has more Sulky Snippets on Pages 42 and 43. Don’t miss the Melbourne Observer for Len’s leading coverage of harness racing with his ‘Horses To Follow’ section.
■ Illawong Travel, Real Elegance, Gollahman, Onetolove, Indulgent, Admiral Joy, Well Oiled Lombo, Mister Scorcher, Jay Dee Zed, Glenferrie Typhoon, Indi Bapu.
Visitor revved up ■ Woorinen trainer Vince Costa took first blood at the Nyah HRC fixture held at the Swan Hill Racing Centre on Thursday February 6, when smart 4-Y-0 Dream Away/RoyalBeach Girl gelding Beachstar scored in the Mixx FM Radio Pace for C0 class over 1609 metres. Driven by Shepparton based David Moran, Beachstar first up since August was taken back at the start from gate four, settling mid-field in the running line with the polemarker Chance Ya Armbro leading. Narrandera visitor David Kennedy revved up Starzzz Delight (gate five) which had been caught three wide from the outset racing for the bell to lead for the final circuit. Moving three and four wide approaching the final bend, Beachstar finished at 100 miles an hour to cut down Starzzz Delight in the shadows of the post, winning by 1.7 metres in a mile rate of 1-57.3. The roughie Sophie Georgeous (four back the markers) finished third.
No pressure to lead ■ Melton trainer/driver Paul Grech's speedy Sundon/Panbrake 5-Y-0 gelding Mister Gunsen upstaged his more fancied rivals when successful in the Bendigo Bank Trotters Mobile for T2 to T4 class over 2240 metres at the St Arnaud HRC fixture held at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday. Showing his customary gate speed from barrier two, Mister Gunsen led with no pressure being applied by the hot favourite Quite A Moment who was content to lope along outside him. Giving plenty on turning, Mister Gunsen defied all challengers to score by a half neck over Quite A Moment and Dawn Tears (one/one) in a mile rate of 2-00.8. It was Mister Gunsen's 12th victory in 70 outings.
Crossed face of field ■ At Kilmore on Wednesday, Mernda part-owner/ trainer/driver Ian Dornauf's 6-Y-0 Dawn Ofa New Day/Sister Dancer entire Royal Verdict scored a huge victory in the Harness Thursday Trackside Treats Pace for C5 & C6 class over 1690 metres. Using his brilliant speed from outside the front row, Royal Verdict crossed the face of the field to lead running into the first turn, before running his rivals ragged in defeating Indulgent and Revivalist in a slashing rate of 1-54.7.
Used sprint lane ■ Woodstock trainer Ronnie Francis' honest 6-Y0 Grinfromeartoear/Grandfinal Eve entire Ringtripleowe finally broke through for his first victory in almost 12 months, when successful in the VHRSC Pace for C1 class over 1720 metres at the St Arnaud HRC fixture held at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday. Driven by Daryl Douglas, Ringtripleowe settled mid-field from gate two on the second row, before being sent forward to park outside the leader All Aussie Star racing for the bell. Bursting clear on the home turn, Ringtripleowe scored by 5.5metres in a rate of 1-58.6 from Eleventh Command (three wide last lap) and the hot favourite Maka Killin along the sprintlane after trailing the weakening pacemaker.
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Page 45
Burong Equestrian Centre Indoor Arena Under Lights Agistment Available Modern Facilities Appointments, Lessons Taking Horses For Training Clinic - Dressage, QuarterHorses, Riding Clubs, Natural Horsemanship
Burong Equestrian Centre 580 Deans Marsh Road, Winchelsea Contact: Charlotte Blakeley Phone: 0438 318 870 5267 3027
Page 46 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Page 47
Page 48 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 12, 2014
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AFL TEAM FOR TASMANIA ATTENTION: AFL COMMISSION, TAKE NOTICE Dear friends, I just created a campaign: AFL Team for Tasmania. It would mean a lot to me if you took a moment to add your name in support of this issue ● www.communityrun.org/petitions/aflteam-for-tasmania ● www.communityrun.org/petitions/aflteam-for-tasmania?source=facebookshare-button&time=1391050829 ● twitter.com/wwwsafetycove After you've signed the petition please also take a moment to share it with others. It's super easy: post it on facebook, tweet about it, or you could simply forward this email onto your friends and family. Real change happens when everyday people like you and I come together and stand up for what we believe in. Together we can reach many people and create change around this important issue. Thank you, Rex Mapley Sea Change Safety Cove
Why is this important? 1.Tasmania is a Sovereign state. It is not a national competition without Tasmania in it. 2. A generation of Tasmanians have been deprived of the pleasure of AFL, which they are passionate about. 250,000 spectators attended an AFL game in the 1960s. 3. The Australian Constitution provides equality of Trade between states.